The newly winning Pens look for revenge against the Canadiens.
Once again in the win column for the second straight game, the Penguins are headed to Montreal to attempt to avenge their prior loss to the Canadiens back in October.
It was the loss to the Habs that interrupted the Pens' season-opening streak of winning four out of five games and also started a bumpy stretch of play that culminated in their only recently snapped seven-game cold spell. Pittsburgh had an early lead in that first matchup but ultimately gave up three disheartening unanswered goals to the fast, youth-filled Montreal team. The Pens ended up losing in OT with Casey DeSmith in net.
This brings us to tonight's mystery: whether Casey DeSmith will be in the cage once again for the third game in a row and the second straight day in this back-to-back scenario?
Without a gameday skate held today, we have to wait to find out if presumed starter Tristan Jarry is in playing shape or if the Pens are dealing with a more concerning issue with him. If that's the case DeSmith will suit up for the third game in a row due to the lack of cap space forcing the team to forgo making any recalls.
Here's a look at tonight's tilt, which will be broadcast on AT&T Sportsnet locally in Pittsburgh, NHL Network nationally in the US, and nationally in Canada on Hockey Night In Canada:
Game Info:
Pens Game #15: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Montreal Canadiens
Date: November 12, 2022
Time: 7 PM (ET)
Place: Montreal, QC
Venue: Bell Centre
Broadcasts: Local- ATTSN, National- NHLN/ESPN+
Social Media Hashtags #: #LetsGoPens #GoHabsGo
Team Matchup:
Records- PIT: 6-6-2, MTL: 7-6-1
Last 10- PIT: 3-6-1, MTL: 5-4-1
Standings- PIT: 22nd, MTL: 20th
Streaks- PIT: 2 Wins, MTL: 2 Wins
Points- PIT: 12, MTL: 15
Season Series- 1-0 MTL
Series Goals For- PIT: 2, MTL: 3
Team Analytics Comparison:
Goalie Matchup:
Projected starting goalies-
Penguins Update:
The Pens' penalty kill is finally beginning to show life they've only allowed one goal against in the past two games.
Kasperi Kapanen appears set to be a healthy scratch for the third game in a row. And unless there are several injuries on the team, his future with the Pens looks murkier with every additional game he sits out.
Keep a look out because if Jason Zucker scores tonight he'll have his first three-game goal streak of his Penguins' career.
-Injury Report-
-Teddy Blueger (F): upper body, day-to-day.
-P.O. Joseph (D): undisclosed, day-to-day.
-Pens Lines-
The projected Penguins lines for Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Montreal Canadiens:
(Forwards)
Jake Guentzel - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Jason Zucker - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Brock McGinn - Jeff Carter - Danton Heinen
Filip Hallander - Ryan Poehling - Josh Archibald
(Defense)
Marcus Pettersson - Kris Letang
Brian Dumoulin - Jeff Petry
Chad Ruhwedel - Jan Rutta
(Special Teams)
PP1: Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Guentzel, Letang
PP2: Carter, Rakell, Zucker, Heinen, Petry
PK1: Carter, McGinn, Dumoulin, Rutta
PK2: Poehling, Archibald, Petry, Pettersson
Canadiens Update:
The Canadiens are a team full of suspense- suspension suspense. Josh Anderson is set to return for the Canadiens from suspension tonight. 2022 #1 overall draft pick Juraj Slafkovsky is still out due to a suspension.
Montreal comes into this game on two days' rest to the traveling Penguins' back-to-back game scenario, so they'll have the advantage on endurance.
-Injury Report-
-Mike Matheson (D): IR, abdomen, day-to-day.
-Emil Heineman (F): IR, thumb, week-to-week.
-Paul Byron (F): LTIR, hip, week-to-week.
-Carey Price (G): LTIR, knee, month-to-month.
For The Penguins: Evgeni Malkin. Malkin has been the heart and soul of the Pens for years but this season he's also been the ignition switch. Whenever they need a boost he hits the gas. He scored the goal that sparked the Pens' turning around their luck in Toronto where he had a two-point night. He also scored two goals in the first Montreal game of the season. Overall in his career vs. the Habs, Malkin has 55 points in 44 games played, or 1.25 points per game. It's a good bet he'll factor in tonight.
For The Canadiens: Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens' Captain has five points in the last five games and has gelled well with new linemate Kirby Dach this year. Suzuki also scored two points including a goal against the Pens a few weeks ago in Montreal's victory in the first game of the season series between these teams.
